What is a High Risk Driver?

Unfortunately, if you are deemed to be a high-risk driver then you are going to be subject to high insurance premiums due to being classified as being ‘unsafe’ on the roads. Insurance companies have defined set groups of people who are statistically known to be more prone to be involved in accidents, for example teenagers or those that have moving violations on their record.

Here are the main reasons you could be deemed a high-risk driver

New Driver

Teenagers in particular are classed as high-risk drivers. However, there is one which way you can reduce your premiums if you are a teenager. Insurance companies believe that the higher your grades are the safer you are on the roads. For this reason many insurance companies offer ‘good student discount’ which will reward you with hefty discounts should you achieve a grade point average of at least 3.0.

Laps in Owning Insurance

Not owning insurance for a long time will most likely classify you as a high-risk driver. This can include those that have never owned their own insurance policy or those that haven’t owned a car for a number of months and therefore had no reason to purchase insurance. You really cannot counter this and you are going to be paying high premiums for at least six months. Just remember not change your policy within six months, as doing so will reset that six month time period back to zero and you’ll have to start all over.

Moving Violations

Minor traffic violations can affect your insurance premiums for a number of years. You should check with your insurance provider to see how many years they take your moving violation tickets into account. The industry average is around two to three years, but it entirely depends on the insurer. If you have a number of tickets it is suggested that you choose a company that does not look too far back into your history.

Major violations such as a DUI can stay on your record for up to five years. There are a few companies that will only look at DUI violations younger than three years but generally these companies tend to attract higher premiums in the first place.

Inquiring About Potential Claims too Frequently

Whilst this is not a strictly a ‘high-risk driver’ scenario it does affect a number of drivers each year. Whenever you call your insurance provider, a note will be made on your record. If you are constantly making inquiries about insurance claims that you never follow through, your insurance may be increased at the next renewal point. Because of this, it is suggested that you only contact your insurance provider if damage is caused to your car that you cannot afford to pay for yourself.